Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas for Working Parents

It’s a common statement heard in millions of homes across the country: “Mom, what’s for dinner?” When you’re faced with making a quick and easy dinner, ideas for working parents can be found in a number of places. Cookbooks, television programs, and the internet are a few of the places you may want to look.

Experts agree that there are many benefits for families to eat their meals together. Not only can parents have control over what their children are eating, sharing meals allows your family to keep the lines of communication open. Everyone has an opportunity to share what happened during their day, to discuss future family plans, and to maintain a strong relationship.

You can begin the process of helping your children learn about good nutrition by teaching them at family meals. You can also begin to teach your children how to prepare meals or at least parts of meals. By teaching your children how to cook, you can ask for their help when quick and easy dinners are necessary.

What can you do when time is short and the family is moaning about empty stomachs? Keep fresh cut vegetables in your refrigerator for your family to munch while you’re fixing dinner. Here are some ideas of quick and easy dinners that your family might love:

* Homemade chili using canned vegetables is quick and easy. It is also a great, hearty meal for cold winter nights. Choose the type of meat you prefer in your chili; brown it and drain it before adding canned tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, whatever beans your family prefers, and season it to be as spicy as your family likes it. After the chili has been heated all the way through, bring out the shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped onions for each person to top their own bowl.

* Start your crock pot in the morning before you leave for work. You can create so many different meals that will be ready to eat when you get home. Warm up some dinner rolls, heat up vegetables, and you’re on your way to a great meal that didn’t take you too long to get on the table.

* Pizza is a quick meal even if you don’t order it for delivery. The pre-made pizza shells allow your family to create a pizza with their favorite toppings. Of course, anything you can buy that is pre-cut, sliced, or shredded will make your meal that much quicker.

When you make out your grocery list each week, it’s okay to put some convenience items in it, too. And you will save more time if you prepare as much food ahead of time as you can. These quick and easy dinner ideas for working parents can help you make healthy meals for your family and have them on the table in no time at all.